f the room, that if any one had been here I think I should
have disgraced myself and snickered! Unfortunately the dignitary did
not see her.

_Feb. 26._ I had scarcely done breakfast when I was called upon to
serve in the shop for half a dozen men from the blockading vessel off
Otter Island, all negroes. They come every once in a while and buy
large amounts of sugar and other little things. They evidently think
their patronage of great advantage to us.

Five grown men have come in to swell the evening school. I can't do
much for them, as they don't all know their letters, but they have
books and I hope the children will help them on out of school.

Have I told you that the path to the beach has been bordered with
flowers for several weeks, jonquils and narcissus, so far as I can
make out, though unlike any I ever saw before? They are in great
profusion, and there are a few snow-drops, very pretty, but a foot or
more high, and losing their charm in the height and strength. The
jasmine and hawthorn are just coming into blossom, and I see what
looks like a peach-tree in full bloom in Sam's yard.

_Feb. 27._ C. came home before night, with the news that the sales had
begun[110] and that our fate would be decided by next week probably.
He brought no other news of importance except that my unknown guest
was probably a General Potter[111] on Foster's staff. When I came out
of school this morning I found Rose asleep on the rug in front of the
parlor fire! She is quite a Topsy in some things, playing all sorts of
tricks with her voice and actions, but I have never had reason to
doubt her truth or honesty in the smallest particular, since the
first, and I have been very watchful.

_Feb. 28._ Before I was up I heard a perfect babel of tongues, a
magpie chattering, which, on looking out of the window, I found came
from about twenty women at work in our new garden getting out the
"jint-grass," swinging their great, heavy hoes above their heads. Dr.
Dio Lewis should have seen their gymnastics and the physical
development therefrom. It was a droll sight--red, blue, and bright
yellow in their costume, and such a gabbling! Hindustanee is as
intelligible as their talk among themselves. How C. astonished a man
who was muttering away to himself the other day at the Oaks by
laughing at him and telling him he understood Nigger as well as he!

Old Deborah walked from Cherry Hill this morning,--she has lately
moved there from here,--and